WASHINGTON — The city’s elected officials agree with City Administrator Tim Gleason’s proposal to re-adopt the city’s 2013-2014 budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

Aldermen and Mayor Gary Manier supported Gleason’s plan Monday at a City Council meeting that had been postponed a week so city staff would have extra time to work on budget projections.

Instead, Gleason asked council to stick with the current budget next month because he doesn’t have enough information on the economic effect of the Nov. 17 tornado, especially sales and income tax funds that provide nearly 50 percent of budget revenue.

The city’s new fiscal year will begin May 1.

Gleason plans to recommend substantial budget amendments in September or October, after he’s had several months to gather revenue and expense figures.

“At that point, the budget will be more defendable and more accurate. We’ll have a true 2014-2015 budget,” Gleason said.

The state has promised $45 million to communities in nine counties affected by the Nov. 17 tornadoes, “but we don’t know how that’s going to take place,” Gleason said.

Then there’s the home rebuilding question: How much will take place in Washington this spring and summer?

Jon Oliphant, the city’s planning and development director, said 136 rebuilding permits have been issued “with another 15 or 16 waiting to be picked up.” Gleason said that’s encouraging, considering more than 800 homes were destroyed or damaged so badly that they’re not habitable.

An Aug. 31 deadline has been established for the city to know if affected homeowners plan to rebuild or sell their lot.

Manier said when the costs associated with tornado cleanup are taken out, city spending has been within 2013-2014 budget parameters, even with the cold, snowy winter.

A first reading of the status quo 2014-2015 budget will be April 9 and a public hearing will be April 14. Council adoption is scheduled for April 21.

Steve Stein can be reached at 686-3114 or stevestein21@yahoo.com. Read his Stein Time blog on pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpartanSteve.